Shark Alley

Shark Alley, a sea channel off the Cape coast, is a hunting ground for sharks, including massive great white sharks. Adrenaline junkies looking for intimate shark experiences can do so on cage-diving expeditions in the channel, although equally as impressive sightings are afforded those visitors who’d prefer to stay dry.

Did you know?

Great white sharks were declared a protected species in South African waters before anywhere else in the world.

Shark Alley is renowned the world over as one of the top commercial cage-diving destinations. This is not surprising, given that it is home to one of the largest populations of great white sharks in the world.

Lying just a few kilometres south of the small fishing village of Gansbaai, Shark Alley is actually a narrow channel of water that runs between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. It's thanks to the 50 000-odd Cape fur seals on Dyer Island that the channel is so named, for these furry mammals are favourite food for great white sharks. As a result, the sharks trawl the alley in numbers looking for their next meal.

Cage-diving is a thrilling activity, where you are lowered into the water in a secure cage, for a face-to-face encounter with these creatures of the deep. Divers don't have to be scuba-qualified to cage-dive, as the cage actually floats, with part of it remaining out of the water.

Visitors preferring to watch from the safety of the boat certainly won't miss out on any of the action, as the sharks remain just under the surface of the water and come right up to the boat.

During peak season, between June and September, onboard spectators may also see great whites breaching – a fascinating and awe-inspiring display of these sharks' unique hunting habits.

Whale-watching along the Gansbaai coast is also excellent, particularly between May and December, when southern right whales come to mate, calve and nurse their young in this area.

There are also a number of hikes and walking trails around the cliffs of De Kelders at Gansbaai, which feature caves to explore, abundant fynbos and spectacular ocean views.

Travel tips & Planning info

Who to contact

How to get here

Fly direct from any of South Africa’s major cities to Cape Town International Airport. From Cape Town, take the N2 highway east to Hermanus and then the R43 to Gansbaai. The journey should take about two hours by car.

Best time to visit

Winter is the best season to see great white sharks, especially between June and September. This roughly corresponds to the best season to see southern right whales, which generally stay until December.

Around the area

Gansbaai has plenty to keep you busy, but you'll enjoy the drive to Stanford, a picturesque little town with a good brewery.

You could also visit nearby Hermanus, which has plenty of shops, galleries and good restaurants as well as some of the best whale-watching vantage spots in the world.

What to pack

While cold drinks and light snacks will be provided, you should bring along sunscreen (even in winter), a hat, a jacket and if you have a tendency to seasickness, appropriate medication.

Where to stay

Gansbaai has a number of excellent guest houses and other accommodation options.

What to eat

The fresh seafood along this part of the coast is particularly good.

What's happening

The Great White Shark Festival in October, the Crayfish Derby in April and the Fees van die Ganse (Festival of the Geese) in July, all in Gansbaai.

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